Mudryk's Return: Alonso Cautions on Fitness Recovery

Chelsea FC manager Xabi Alonso announced that Mykhailo Mudryk will rejoin the club's squad for their pre-season tour in Hong Kong following the resolution of his doping case with the Football Association. Mudryk, a 25-year-old winger, has not played in a competitive match since November 2024 due to a provisional suspension for an adverse analytical finding for the banned substance meldonium.

The FA concluded its anti-doping proceedings after Mudryk accepted a breach of anti-doping rules, resulting in a suspension equivalent to the one year and eight months he had already served. Alonso expressed happiness for Mudryk's return but emphasized that regaining full fitness will take time, noting that Mudryk trained alone during his suspension and faced significant challenges.

Alonso acknowledged that the club was not expecting Mudryk's availability, especially after strengthening their attacking options during his absence. Chelsea currently has several players capable of playing on the wings, including Pedro Neto and new signing Morgan Rogers.